OTES 



SONG-PERIOD OF THE CTRL BUNTING. 



I HAVE read nowhere a definite account of the song-period of 

 the Cirl Bunting {Eniheriza cirliis), and perhaps the following 

 summary of my notes on this subject, taken during the past 

 six years in the Budleigh Salterton district of S.E. Devon, 

 may be worth recording. 



January. . I have only one date — the 6th — in this month. 

 February . The song may be heard almost any day, but it 



is not regular, and seems to depend on the 



weather. 



March. 

 April. . 

 May. 



Every day and usually all day long. 



June. . . . Sings every day until about the 23rd. From the 

 end of February to June 23rd may be called 

 the full song-period, when the bird sings all 

 day, repeating the notes so constantly that 

 they become wearisome. 



Only one date — the 5th. 



One date — the 3rd. 



Two dates — 6th and 7th. 



All through these months- 

 song, which now has less power, and is less 

 often repeated. 



Three dates — loth, i6th and 26th. 



July. . . . 

 August. . . 

 September. 



October. . 

 November. 



-the minor period of 



December 



The abo\'e is my experience so far, and it ma}' yet be 

 amplified. Possibly too the Cirl Bunting sings even more in 

 other districts, though it is fairly common here. 



\V. Walmeslev White. 



[Messrs. C. J. and H. G. Alexander (Vol. I., p. 372 and 

 Vol. IV., p. 278) state that the song-period lasts from mid- 

 February or the beginning of March to the beginning of 

 September, and all through the winter. For really exact 

 data of course, continuous observations on distinct and 

 separate birds would be desirable.^ — Eds.] 



SPRING MOVEMENTS OF PIED WAGTAILS. 

 That the Pied Wagtail {Motacilla a. luguhris), as well as the 

 Grey Wagtail [M. c. cinerea), and to some extent the Yellow 

 Wagtail {M.flava rayi), is gregarious in autumn at roosting 



